Prevalence and Correlates of Hedonic Hunger Among Youth Attending a Primary Health Center in South India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and objective Hedonic hunger, defined by eating driven by pleasure rather than physiological need, contributes significantly to obesity and metabolic disorders. Limited data exist on hedonic hunger prevalence among Indian youth, particularly in primary healthcare settings. The present study aimed to estimate the prevalence of hedonic hunger and its sociodemographic and lifestyle correlates among youth aged 15-29 years in a South Indian primary healthcare setting. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among 241 youth attending a Primary Health Center in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. Hedonic hunger was measured using the Power of Food Scale (PFS). Sociodemographic data, lifestyle factors, dietary behaviors, and anthropometric measurements were collected. High hedonic hunger was defined as a PFS score greater than 34. Associations were analyzed using chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression. Results All 241 participants provided valid PFS scores, resulting in a 100% response rate. The mean age was 24.0 ± 4.6 years, with 67.6% being female. The mean PFS score was 27.80 ± 9.93. The prevalence of high hedonic hunger was 25.3%, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 20.2% to 31.2%. High hedonic hunger was significantly more prevalent among males than females (38.5% vs. 19.0%, p = 0.002). Multivariable analysis revealed that the influence of advertisements (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 6.00), family income below ₹15,000 (adjusted OR = 5.33), and smoking habit (adjusted OR = 10.85) were significant predictors of high hedonic hunger. Conclusions High hedonic hunger affected one-quarter of youth in this South Indian primary healthcare setting, with notable gender disparities. Strong associations with modifiable lifestyle factors suggest key targets for intervention. These findings highlight the need to incorporate hedonic hunger assessment into routine primary care and to develop targeted behavioral interventions for youth.